Adjustable stapling machine



NOV- 23, 1954 a. E. sHLEslNGER, JR 2,594,807

ADJUSTABLE STAPLING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1954 Elml United States Patent O ADJUSTABLE STAPLING MACHINE Bernard Edward Shlesinger, Jr., Falls Church, Va.

Application April 20, 1954, Serial No. 424,298

17 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) This invention relates to improvements in stapling machines, punches and the like of the type generally referred to as desk Staplers or punches and is co-pending application with my application Serial No. 356,540, filed May 21, 1953, now Patent No. 2,676,318, issued April 27, 1954.

Present machines are limited in use by the depth of their throat. Business offices are constantly being faced with the problem of stapling papers at points remote from their edge and beyond the scope of the machines now available.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stapling machine or the like capable of stapling at points remote from the edge of the paper.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a stapling machine that is no larger than those presently in use, but which is capable of stapling at remote points.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a stapling machine for clerical use that has an adjustable throat.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable stapling machine that is compact.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable stapling machine, without sacrificing staple capacity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a stapling machine which is automatically extensible.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable stapling machine that is rugged and economical to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stapling machine having an adjusting mechanism that will not irllterfere in any manner with the operation of the mac me.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example various embodiments of this invention:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a stapler embodying this invention and showing the stapler in closed position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View, with, parts broken away and parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the releasing spring. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a spring retainer.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on line 7-7 of Fi 1.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through the tail end of the stapling arm.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the driver and anvil in extended positions.

Fig. l0 is a side view of the stapling arm as removed from its holder.

Fig. ll is a fragmentary side view showing an alternate arrangement whereby the driver is held in extended position by acoil spring.

Fig. l2`is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 9. The figure illustrates a latch means comprising a spring pressed ball.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the spring employed in the arrangement of Fig. l2.

The stapling machine as shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a base which vincludes an anvil arm 10 and anl anvil arm support 11. Resilientv pads 12 act as rice cushioning means for the base. An anvil 13 is mounted on the anvil arm. The anvil arm support 11 is rectangular in shape and closed at one end. The side walls of the anvil arm support 11 have closed slots 14 therein. The top wall of stapling arm support 11 has a slot 15 which runs from the open end toward the closed end.

The automatic adjusting mechanism in the base consists of a spring member 16 which is contained in the anvil arm support and is secured to the closed end of the anvil arm support by a finger 17 which has been struck from the support casing and bent around one convolution of the spring 16. The spring 16 is secured at the other end to a pin 18 which passes through a spring housing 19 (Figure 5). The ends of the pin 18 engage with the slots 14 in the side walls of the anvil arm support 11. Flat spring members 20 (Figures 3, l2 and 13) are secured to opposite inside walls of the anvil arm 10 by means of fasteners 21. The fiat springs 20 have a pin 22 fixed thereto which passes through holes 23 in the walls of the anvil arm 10 and ride in the slot 14. The spring members 20 have a dimple 24 (Fig. 12) which biases a ball bearing 25 against openings 26 in the walls of the anvil arm 10 which are smaller in diameter than that of the ball bearing in order to retain the ball bearing between the flat spring 19 and the side walls of the anvil arm 10 yet allow the ball bearing to protrudelleyond the exterior surface of the side wall of anvil arm The anvil arm 10 has a pall member 27 (Figures 2 and 3) connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 28. Pall member 27 travels in slot 15 (Figure 7) of anvil arm support 11. The pall member 27 is normally prevented from pivoting by a spring member 29 connected to the top wall of the anvil arm 10 by means of a rivet 30. Brackets or ears 31 fixed to the anvil arm support 11 serve as bearings for a pivot pin 32. Brackets 31 are slotted as at 33 for a reason hereinafter described.

The stapling head support is comprised of a stapling arm 40 and a stapling arm support 41. A driving mechanism (not shown) is encased within stapling head 42 and is operated by a plunger 43 to which is secured a striking button 44. A conventional spring staple feed member 45 (Figure 3) is guided on a staple feed channel 46 (Figure 6) and operates to feed staples not shown into the staple driving head 42. The staple feed channel 46 has anges 47 which permit the channel to be centered within stapling arm 40, in a manner well known in the art.

The side walls of the stapling arm support 41 have closed slots 14 therein similar to those of the anvil arm support 11. The top and bottom walls of stapling arm support 41 have slots 49 and 15 (Figure 6) respectively which run from the open end toward the closed end. Spring staple feed member 45 travels in slot 49.

`The automatic feed mechanism heretofore described in conjunction with anvil arm 10 and anvil arm support 11 is identical with that used with stapling arm 40 and stapling arm support 41. A spring member 16 (Fig ure 2) similar to spring member 16 is contained in the stapling arm support 41 and is secured to the closed end of the stapling arm support by a finger 17 which has been struck from the support casing and bent around one convolution of the spring 16'. The spring 16 is secured at the other end to a pin 18 which passes through a spring housing 19'. The ends of the pin 18 engage with the slots 14' in the side walls of the stapling arm support 41. Flat spring members 20 are secured to opposite inside walls of the stapling arm 40 by means of fasteners 21'. The flat springs 20' have a pin 22 fixed thereto which passes through holes 23' in the walls of the stapling arm 40 and rides in slots 14. The spring members 20 have a dimple 24' which biases a ball bearing 25' against openings 26 in the walls of the stapling arm 40 which are smaller in diameter than that of the ball bearing in order to retain the ball bearing between the flat spring 20 and the side walls of the stapling arm 40 yet allow the ball bearing to protrude beyond the exterior surface of the side walls of stapling arm 40.

The stapling arm 40 has a pall member 27 (Figure 8) connected thereto by means of pivot pin 28. The pall member is normally prevented from pivoting by a spring member 29 connected to the bottom wall of the stapling arm 40 by means of a rivet 3b. Pall member 27 travels in slot 1S (Figure 6) of stapling arm support 41. Brackets or ears 31 fixed to the stapling arm support 41 are pivotally supported upon pivot pin 32. Brackets 31 are slotted as at 33 for a reason hereinafter de scribed. One of the brackets 31 acts as a stop for a stop lug 5'1 on one of brackets 31 thereby limiting the rearward pivotal movement of the stapling arm support 41 relative to the anvil arm support 11. A U-shaped spring member 52 having anges 53 and S3 is positioned between the brackets 31 and 31" and connected to the brackets through pins 54 and 54 which engage the slots 33 and 33 respectively. Pins S4 and S4 are secured to spring 52 by welding or any manner obvious to the skilled craftsman. It is also obvious that pins 54 and 54 could be fashioned integrally with spring 52 from a single blank ofmaterial.

Operation By pressing forward on U-shaped spring member 52 pins 54 and 54 riding in slots 33 and 33 are cammed toward each other. This camming action permits flanges 53 and 53 which normally engage palls. 27 and 27 to be disconnected therefrom by action of springs 29-29. Upon disengagement of palls 2'7 and 27 from iianges 53 and S3', springs 16 and 16 which are under tension, thrust forward anvil army 1t).l and stapling arm 4i) to the position shown in Fig'. 9a Bail bearings 25 and 25 ride over the end portions of anvil arm support 11 and stapling arm support 41 toy lock thev anvil arm 10 and the stapling arm 40 in extended position (Figure l2).

The machine is recocked by merely grasping the stapler at both ends and shoving the arms and the arm sup ports together. The ball bearings and 25 which are spring biased will readily disengage from the ends of the arm supports. The. pall members 27 and 27 will pivot` to ride pastl flanges 53 and 53' on U-shaped springmember' 52. Once past ilanges 53' and 53, pall members 27 and 27 will pivot back again to engage. anges 53 and 5.3 thereby recocking springs 16 and 16' for future use.

It is to be noted that the anvil arm or the stapling arm can be released individually by downward or upward pressure respectively, on U-shaped spring member 52. Such pressure cams only one of the pins 54 and: 54.

Figure l1 shows a` modication of the stapling machine in which a spring member 60 encasedl in stapling arm support 41 acts. to keep the stapling army 40 in extended position- This modification requires a spring longer than spring 16v and spring 16 and avoids the necessity of having ball bearings 25 and 2S and the openings 26 and 26 associated therewith. With these eiceptions the machine is identical with that described a ove.

Removal of the anvil arm or stapling arm.

Pins 22 and 22" which travel in slots 14' and 14 and which prevent disengagement of the arms 10 and 40 from the arm supports 11 and fil,y may be depressed and disengaged from slots 14 and 14 permitting arms. 10 and to be disconnected from arm supports 11 andv 41. Fig. 10 shows the stapling arm 4t? disconnected from the stapling arm support 4i.

While the invention has been described in connection with different embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modication, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses74 or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come, withinz known or customaryv practice in the art to which the invention v pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.`

Having thus described` my invention, what l claim is: 1. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a guide pin connected to said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, a guide pin connected to said stapling arm, arms connected to, and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, said last mentioned arms having closed slots to receive said guide pins for movements therein,

and resilient means located in said last mentioned arms normally under compression which when released simultaneously move said anvil arm and said stapling arm from a retracted to an extended position to change the distance between the pivot means and the anvil and between the pivot means and the driving head.

2. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, and resilient actuating means located in said last mentioned arms normally under compression which when released simultaneously move said anvil arm and said stapling arm from a retracted to an extended position to change the distance between the pivot means and the anvil and between the pivot means and the driving head.

3. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a guidey pin connected to said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, a guide pin connectedv to said stapling arm, arms telescopically connected to and extended rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, said last mentioned arms having closed slots to receive said guide pins, springl means interposed between saidy anvil arm andthe arm on which said anvil arm is telescoped to move said anvil arm to an extended position to change the distance between the pivot means and the anvil, andi spring means interposedv between said stapling arm and the arm on which said stapling arm is telescoped. to. move said stapling arm to an extended position to change the distance between the pivot means and the driving head'.

4. An adjustable stapling machine comprising` an anvil arm,l an anvil on said anvily arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms telescopically connected to and extending rearwardly fromy said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, catches carried by said anvil arm and said stapling arm, means. carried by said pivot means normally engaging saidcatches when said anvilr arm and one ot" said last mentioned arms and said stapling arm andA the other of said last mentioned arms are telescoped, said engaging means being movable to a disengaged position, and means mounted between said anvil arm and' said one of said last mentioned arms and between said' stapling arm and said other of said last mentioned arms for urging said anvil arm and said stapling arm to a forward positionl when said catches are disengaged from said engaging` means.

5t. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and' a magazine, arms telescopically connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said' stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said lastmentioned arms together, catches carried by said anvil arm and said stapling arm, means carried by said pivot means normally engagingjsaid catches `when said anvil arm and one of said last mentioned arms and said stapling arm and the other of said last mentioned arms are telescoped, said engaging means being movable to a disengaged position, meansy mounted between said anvil arm and said one of said last mentioned arms and between said stapling arm andvsaid other of said last mentioned arms for urging said anvil armv and said stapling arm, toV a forwardr position when said catches are disengaged from saidV engagingmeans, and means. for locking said, anvil arm and said' stapling arm in the forward position.

6. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil larm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms telescopically connested! to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, catches carried by said anvil arm and said stapling arm, means carried by said pivot means normally engaging said catches when said anvil arm and one of said last-mentioned arms and said stapling arm and the other of saidy last mentioned arms are telescoped, said engaging means being movable to a disengaged position, and means mountedv between said anvil armv and said oneuof said last mentioned armsand betweensaid stapling arm andsaid'other'" of said last-mentionedfarms yfor =urgingsaid `anvil arm andsaid stapling 'arm toV a `forward` positionl when said catches are disengaged from saidvengaging'imeans, 'said `.urging means serving .to maintain said anvil armA and said stapling arm in tlrceforwardI position.

7. An adjustable"stapling'fmachine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying.a'-dr`iving.head and a magazine, arms connected 'to and extendingrearwardly from said'anvil arm and ysaid stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, said last mentioned arms telescopically supporting said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means preventing said last mentioned arms from being disconnected from said anvil arm and said stapling head, means located in said last mentioned arms which when released move said anvil arm and said stapling arm to change the distance between the pivot means and the anvil and between the pivot means and the driving head, and means permitting said last mentioned arms to be disconnected from said anvil arm and said stapling head respectively.

8. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms telescopically connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, said pivot means having slots therein, catches on said anvil arm, and said stapling arm respectively, means mounted in the slots in said pivot means normally engaging said catches when said anvil arm and one of said last mentioned arms and said stapling arm and the other of said last mentioned arms are telescoped, said engaging means being movable in said slots to a disengaged position, and means mounted between said anvil arm and said one of last mentioned arms and between said stapling arm and said other of said last mentioned arms for urging said anvil arm and said stapling arm to a forward position when said catches are disengaged from said engaging means.

9. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms telescopically connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, said means having slots therein, catches carried by said anvil arm and said stapling head respectively, a U-shaped spring member having supporting means slidably mounted in the slots in said pivot means, said U-shaped spring member normally engaging said catches when said anvil arm and one of said last mentioned arms and said stapling arm and the other of said last mentioned arms are telescoped, and means mounted between said anvil arm and said one of said last mentioned arms and between said stapling arm and said other of said last mentioned arms for urging said anvil arm and said stapling head to a forward position when said catches are disengaged from said U-shaped spring member `as said U-shaped spring members supporting means are moved forwardly in said slots.

l0. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms telescopically connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means pivotallymounting said last mentioned arms together, said means having slots therein, catches carried by said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, a U-shaped spring member having supporting means slideably mounted in the slots in said pivot means normally engaging said catches when said anvil arm and one of said last mentioned arms and said stapling arm and the other of said last mentioned arms are telescoped, and means mounted between said anvil arm and said one of said last mentioned arms and between said stapling arm and said other of said last mentioned arms for urging said anvil arm and said stapling arm to a forward position when said catches are disengaged from said U-shaped spring member as said U-shaped spring member supporting means are moved forwardly in said slots, said U-shaped spring member urging said last mentioned arms in contradirections labout said pivot means to maintain said anvil and said driver in spaced relation.

1l. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a drivingih-ead and fa magazine',*armsnele-t scopically connected to and extending rearwardlyl from said `anvil arm'fand saidstaplingarm respectively, means carried "by "said anvil arin'and said stapling `arm respec tivelyy'la cam member tnt'avablymoun'ted on said-pivotl means'normallyl engaging said' catches when said anvill arm 'and oneofy said last `mentioned arms Vand saidstapling arm andthe-other-'of said'last v'mentioned -:arms'are telescoped', saidl cam memberfcooperating with said camv surfaces, and means mounted between said anvil arm and said one of said last mentioned arms and between said stapling arm and said other of said last mentioned arms for urging said anvil arm and said stapling arm to a forward position when said catches are disengaged from said cam member as it is moved forwardly on the cooperating cam surfaces.

l2. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, resilient means for moving said anvil arm and said stapling arm from a retracted to an extended position with respect to said last mentioned arms, means for maintaining said anvil and stapling arms in extended position, means for maintaining said anvil and stapling arms in retracted position, releasing means for said retracted position maintaining means, and releasing means for said extended position maintaining means.

13. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, spring means for moving said anvil arm and said stapling arm from a retracted to an extended position with respect to said last mentioned arms, means for maintaining said anvil and stapling arms in extended position, means for maintaining said ianvil and stapling arms in retracted position, releasing means for said retracted position mainm taining means, and releasing means for said extended position maintaining means.

14. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, spring means for simultaneously moving said anvil arm and said stapling arm from a retracted to an extended position with respect to said last mentioned arms, means for maintaining said anvil and stapling arms in extended position, means for maintaining said anvil and stapling arms in retracted position, releasing means for said retracted position maintaining means, and releasing means for said extended position maintaining means.

15. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an anvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, resilient means for moving said anvil arm `and said stapling arm from a retracted to an extended position with respect to said last mentioned arms, means for maintaining said anvil and stapling arms in retracted position, and releasing means for said retracted position maintaining means.

16. An adjustable stapling machine comprising an anvil arm, an Ianvil on said anvil arm, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, arms connected to and extending rearwardly from said anvil arm and said stapling arm respectively, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arms together, spring means for moving said anvil arm from a retracted to an extended position with respect to its rearwardly extending arm, spring means for moving said stapling arm from a retracted to an extended position with respect to its rearwardly extending arm, means for maintaining said anvil arm in retracted position, releasing means for said anvil arm retracted position maintaining means, means for maintaining said stapling arm in retracted position, and releasing mismo?` means for said stapling arm retracted position maintaining means.

17. An adjustable stapling machine comprising a base, an anvil on said base, a stapling arm carrying a driving head and a magazine, an arm connected to and extending rearwardly from said stapling arm, means for pivotally mounting said last mentioned arm and said base together, spring means for moving said stapling arm from a retracted position to an extended position with respect to said last mentioned arm, means for maintaining said stapling arm in retracted position, releasing means for References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Da te Shlesinger Apr. 27, 1934 

